Wire-working machine



Dec. 17, 1929. ED 7 1,740,038

WIRE WORKING MACHI NE Original Filed Jan. 26, 1928 3 Sheets-sheet 1 FIG. 2

m INVENTOR.

v 1929. o. F. ROHWEDDER 1,740,038

WIRE WORKING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 26, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 33 m 1;, WW1,

m INVENTOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

Dec. 17, 1929. c v F. ROHWEDDER WIRE WORKING MACHINE Original Filed Jan.

WWQWWWWW FIG. q

I Patented Dec. 17, 1929 OTTO F. ROHWEDDER, F DAVENPORT, IOWA WIRE-WORKING MACHINE Application filed January 26, 1928, Serial No. 249,611. Renewed August 26, 1929.

My invention relates to improvements in a longitudinal slot, 2, in the bed plate, 1 and 8 wire working machines.

The objects of my invention are: 1. To provide a machine which will form crimped staples from a straight piece of wire;

2. To provide means for crimping a piece of Wire-without any considerable amount of stretching 3. To provide means for progressively applying lateral pressure to successive portions of a wire whereby the same may be crimped with but a limited stretching thereof;

l. To provide means for crimping a wire with adjustable means for determining the depth of the crimps;

5. To provide means for crimping a wire and retaining the crimped portions in a straight line;

6. To provide means for progressively crimping successive portions of a wire without causing the crimped portion of the wire as a whole to curve laterally during the crimping process.

I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of my apparatus, with a portion of the base, 3, foreshortened; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my apparatus;

Fig. 3 is an end view from the left end of Figure 1; 1 is an end view looking from the right end of Figure 1; Fig. 5 is a detail of the trip lever for the feeding mechanism; Fig. 6 is a detail of the feed lever; Fig. 7 is a detail of one of the crimping levers; Fig.

8 is an enlarged horizontal sectional detail,

showing a wire partially crimped, on the line 88 of Fig. 2; Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

My machine comprises a base, 8, preferably formed of angle-iron, which may be supported in any suitable manner, upon which a bed, 1., is mounted to slide longitudinally. The bed, 1, comprises a substantially rectangular plate with a narrow extension formed integral therewith at the take-off end. United to the base, 3, is a support, 29, which may be formed integral with the base or secured thereto by set screws as shown in Figure 9.

This support, 29, extends upwardly through the extension thereof.

A crimping plate, 2 1, is united to the support, 29, at a level just above the bed, 1, and the crimping plate, 24, is provided with identations 25 at the sides thereof as shown clearly in Figure 8.

A head plate, 20, is secured upon the upper surface of the support, 29, although, if desired, the crimping plate, 24, and head plate, 20, may be formed integral with the support, 29. The head plate, 20, is preferably secured to the support, 29, by set screws as shown in Figure 9, but may be secured thereto in any suitable manner.

The edgesof the headplates, 20, are provided with notches 20, through which a rod, 21, extends for the entire length of the head plate, which rod, 21, forms a pivot for a plurality of crimping levers, 18, that are arranged on opposite sides of the head plate in pairs. The upper ends of each pairv of levers, 18, are drawn together by tension springs, 19, suitably secured at the upper ends of each pair and the lower end of each lever, 18, is provided with a slight notch, 18.

When the levers, 18, are in their free position as shown in Figure 4, the lower ends are sufficiently above the bed, 1, to permit a wire of the size for which the machine is intended, to pass under the same.

At each side of the bed plate, 1, near the extension end thereof, are secured shafts, 6 and 6, which are adjustably mounted in transverse slots, 34, and are secured by nuts, 32 and 32, in their adjustable positions. I mount up on these shafts presser devices which may be in the form of wheels, but are preferably in the form of ball bearings having their outer rims, 5 and 5, provided with substantially cylindrical peripheries, although the form of periphery may be varied to suit the requirements of each particular case.

Adjacent each presser wheel or band, I mount presser plates, 4 and 4;, respectively, which are preferably adjustable in the same way that the presser wheel shafts, 6 and 6, are adjustable and to the same extent, transverse slots 31 being formed in the bed 1, and the presser plates 4 and 4: being secured thereof and an additional guide, 1?, is mount ed upon the head plate, 20, or support, 29, extending downwardly to approximately the level of the crimping plate, 24.

In the operation of my device, a straight piece of wire, shown in dotted lines as 83 in Figure 3, is fed into the machine manually in the position shown and rests upon a pair of levers, and 10, which are secured to the shaft, 14, which in turn is pivotally mounted in the supports, 9 and 9, the supports being secured to the arns 8 and 8, respectively.

The shaft, 14, also has secured thereto a crank, 12, the free end of which is connected by a link, 13, to one end of the trip lever, 26, which is pivoted in a suitable lug or support, 28, mounted upon the bed plate 1.

A stud or detent, 27, is secured to the base, 8, which trips the trip lever, 26, Whenever the bed plate, 1, has been returned to its set position after the crimping of a staple or wire has been completed. As the trip lever, 26, is tripped by the stud, 27, the link, 13, pulls the crank, 12, downwardly, thereby turning the shaft, 14, and throwing the levers, 10 and 10 downwardly, so as to allow the wire res ing thereon tohdrop' downwardly between the various guides so that it rests upon the bed plate, 1, at the left end of the support, 19, as shown in Figure 1.

A pair of posts or pins, are secured in the bed plate, 1, and a pair of grooved wire rests, 16 are secured to the support, 29, or they may be secured. to the crimping plate, 20, at the feed end thereof and. just in advance of the pins, 15.

In the operation of my machine, a wire of the proper length is laid upon the detents, 10 and 10', between the various guides heretofore specified. The bed of the machine is then retracted or drawn to the left as shown in Figure land a wire 33 drops down between the guides and upon the Wire rests, 16. The bed plate is then pushed forward or to the right, as shown in Figure 1 and the pins, 15, coming in contact with the wire, bend it at right angles and travel along the crimping plate as shown in Figure 8, holding the wire in contact with the crimping plate adjacent the indentations 25.

An additional pair of pins, 15, are secured in the bed, 1, to the left of the pins, 15, as shown in Figure 1, and as the bed, 1, moves forward-to the right as shown in Figure 1 the pins, 15 and 15, successively come contact with the wire and bend and hold it along the sides of the crimping plate, 24.

At the same time, the presser wheels or bands, 5 and 5, come in contact with the lower ends of the levers, 18, and press them inwardly against the wire, thus forcing the wire into the recesses, 25, of the crimping plate, 24, as shown in Figure 8, and the plates, 4 and 4, following the presser bands, con tact with the levers, 18, and hold them down while the wheels or bands, 5 and 5, are com ing in contact with additional levers, 18.

It is thus apparent that the portions of the wire which have already been pressed into the recesses, 25, of the crimping plate, will be firmly held therein by the plates, 4 and 4, while additional indentations are being made in the wire by the pressure of succeeding pairs of levers, 18.

When the bed has been driven for the full length of its travel along the base, 3, the catch, 22, formed upon the end of the extension of the bed, 1, will seize the cross-bar or head of the staple and draw the staple, 33. back with it so that the staple will drop or can be manually removed. If desired, provision can be made for removing it mechanically or in any other desired way.

The depth of the indentations in the legs of the staple can be varied by moving the presser wheels, 5 and 5, and the plates, 4 and 4, nearer to or farther from the crimping plate, 24.

The travel of the bed, 1, should be about twenty-live per cent greater than the length of the staple, so that when the catch, 22, engages the head of the staple, the pressers, 5 and 5, and the plates, 4 and 4, will have traveled beyond the levers, 18, so that a very little springing of the staple will allow it to be withdrawn from the crimping plate by the catch, 22. The outer end of the catch, 22, is slotted so that as the staples are drawn clear of the fingers, 18, and crimping plate, the staples can drop off into a hopper or receptacle.

The length of the extension of the bed, 1, is also slightly greater than the length of the staples, so that the fall of the staples will not be impeded by the body portion of the bed, 1. It is obvious that with this arrangement, but very slight stretching of the wire will occur as the staples are formed and that each lev r, as it presses the adjacent portion of the wire into the corresponding recess, 25, will cause very little stretching of the wire, as the wire will be free to move suificiently to bend into the recess.

The pins, 15 and 15, are very low, being intended to be only suflicient-ly high to engage the wire when it is lying flat upon the bed. The lower ends of the lever, 18, may be round as shown in Figure 8, or shaped in any other desired form. As soon as the ends of the lever, 18, are freed from contact with the presser wheels and plates, the action of the tension springs, 19, draws the upper ends of each pair together and carries the lower ends upwardly from the crimping plate so as to leave the space open for the insertion of a new Wire or removal of the finished staple.

I have not shown any means for driving this machine, as it is obvious that it may be operated manually or by mechanical power of any desired kind, it being only necessary to provide means which will cause the bed, 1, to travel reciprocatingly in a longitudinal direction upon the base, 3, for the full length of its throw.

It is obvious that the size and proportions of my machine may be changed to adapt it for crimping rods or bands or sheets of considerable width without departing from the principle of my invention and I do not limit my invention to crimping wires. Neither do I limit my invention to staples. It is obvious that it may be applied to hair pins and other objects by a slight change in the shape of the head of the crimping plate, and other uses will develop as the need arises.

I claim:

1. A crimping machine for wire and small bars or bands, comprising a support, a stationary crimping plate secured thereto and having an indented edge, a series of crimping levers pivotally mounted on said support adjacent said indented edge and having ends corresponding to and slightly smaller than the indentations ot' the plate, said levers being spaced the same as the indentations of said plate, means for holding the material to be crimped adjacen the indented edge of the crimping plate, and means for successively actuating the crimping evers into the corresponding indentations of the crimping plate against said material tocrimp the same.

2. A crimping machine for wire and small bars or hands, comprising a support, a sta tionary crimping plate secured thereto and having an indented edge, a series of springheld crimping levers pivotally mounted on said support adjacent said indented edge and having ends corresponding to and slightly smaller than the indentations of the plate, said levers being spaced the same as the in dentaticns of said plate, means for holding the material to be crimped adjacent the indented edge of the crimping plate, and means for successively actuating the crimping levers into the corresponding indentations of the crimping plate against said material to crimp the same.

3. A crimping machine for wire and small bars or hands, comprising a support, stationary crimping plate secured thereto and having an indented edge, a series of crimping levers pivotally mounted on said support adiacent said indented edge and having their lower ends corresponding to and slightlv smaller than the indentations of the plate, said levers being spaced the same as the indentations of said plate, means for holding the material to be crimped adjacent the indented edge of the crimping plate, and means for successively actuating the crimping levers into the corresponding indentations of the crimping plate against said. material to crimp the same.

4. A crimping machine for wire and small bars or bands, comprising a support, a stationary crimping plate secured thereto and having opposite indented edges, a series of crimping levers pivotally mounted on said support adjacent said indented edge and having their lower ends corresponding to and slightly smaller than the indentations of the plate, said levers bein spaced the same as the indentations of said plate, a movable plate straddling the crimping plate and slidable longitudinally thereof having pins mounted thereon adjacent the head of the crimping plate and spaced apart approximately the width of the crimping plate, and means for successively actuating the crimping levers into the corresponding indentations of the crimping plate against said material to crimp the same.

5. A crimping machine for wire and small bars or bands, comprising a support, a stationary crimping plate mounted thereon and having opposite indented edges, a series of crimping levers pivotally mounted on srld support and having their lower ends corresponding to and slightly smaller than the indentations of the plate, said levers being spaced the same as the indentations oi said plate, a longitudinally movable plate straddling the crimping plate and ha 'ing pins mounted. thereon adjacent the head of the crimping plate, said pins being spaced apart approximately the width oi the crimping plate and adapted to bend and hold the material to be crimped in close contact with the indented edges of the crimping plate, and means for successively actuating the crimping levers into the corresponding indentations of the crimping pl rte against the material to crimp the same.

6. A crimping machine for wire and small bars or hands, comprising a suaport, a stationary crimping plate mounted thereon and having opposite indented eeges, a series crimping levers pivotally mounted on said support adjacent the indentations thereoi and l'lavingg their lower ds corresponding to and slightly smaller tl n the indentzm r i plate, longitudinally movable plate straddling the crnn nng plate and hzwingpins mounted thereon adjacent the head of the crimping plate, said pins being spaced apart approximately the width of the crimping plate, and means mounted upon the movable plate to actuate the crimping levers.

T. A crimping machine for wire and small bars or hands, comprising a support, a stationari crimping plate mounted thereon and l opposite indented edges, a series of L nping levers pivotally mounted on said support and having their lower ends corresponding to and slightly smaller than the 1ndentations of the plate, said levers being spaced the same as the indentations of said plat-es, a longitudinally movable plate straddling the crimping plate and having pins mounted thereon adjacent the head of the crimping plate, said pins being spaced apart approximately the width of the crimping plate, and means mounted upon the movable plate to actuate the crimping levers successively.

8. A crii'nping machine for Wire and small bars or bands, comprising a support, a stationary crimping plate mounted thereon and having opposite indented edges, a series of crimping levers pivotally mounted on said support and having their lower ends corresponding to and slightly :nnaller than the indentations of the plate, said levers being spaced the same the indentations in said plates, longitudinally movable plate straddling the crimping plate and having pins mounted thereon adjacent heal of the crimping plate, said pins bei approximatelv the Width of one the crimping plate, means mounted upon the m ovable plate to actuate the crimping levers successively and means to hold. certain of said levers in engagement With the material being crimped While additional levers are being actuated into engagement therewith.

9. A crimping machine to]: Wire and small bars or hands, comprising a support, a stationary crimping plate mounted thereon and having opposite indented edges, a series of crimping; levers pivotally mounted on salt support and having ends correspond ng to and slightly smaller than the indentations of the plate, said levers being spaced the same as the indentations in said plate, a movable plate straddling the crimping plate and being slidable longitudinally thereof, and rotata ble presser men'ibers mounted upon the movable plate and successively bearing against the lower ends of the crimping levers as the movable plate travels along the crimping plate.

10. A crimping machine for Wire and small bars or bands, comprising a support, a stationary crimping plate mounted thereon and having opposite indented edges, a series oi springheld crimping levers pivotally mounted on said support spaced the same as the indentations of said plate and ha ing ends corresponding to and slightly smaller than said inaentations, a movable plate straddling the crimping plate and being slidable longitudinallv thereof, and rotatable presser members mounted upon the movable plate and successively bearing against the lower ends of spaced apart the crimping levers successively as the movable plate travels along the crimping plate.

11. A crimping machine for Wire and small bars or bands, comprising a support, a stationary crimping plate having opposite 1n dented edges, a series of springheld crimping levers pivotally mounted on said support spaced the same as the indentations of said plate and having ends corresponding to and slightly smaller than said indentations, a movable plate straddling the crimping plate and being slidable longitudinally thereof, rotatable presser members mounted upon the movable plate and successively bearing against the lower ends of the crimping levers as the movable plate travels along the crimpmg plate, and retaining blocks secured to the movable plate adjacent to the rear of the rotatable presser members in a position to bear against the material being crimped as they move along the crimping plate.

12. A crimping machine for Wire and small bars or hands, comprising a stationary crimping plate having an indented edge, a series of crimping levers pivotally mounted adjacent the crimping plate, said levers being spaced the same as the indentations of said plate and having endscorresponding to and slightly smaller than said indentations, means for holding the material to be crimped adjacent the indented edge of the crimping plate, and means for successively actuating the crimping levers into the corresponding indentations of the crimping plate against said material to crimp the same.

13. A crimping machine for Wire and small Jars or bands, comprising a stationary crimping plate having opposite indented edges, a series of crimping levers pivot-ally mounted adjacent the crimping plate, said levers being spaced the same as the indentations of said plate and having their lower ends corresponding to and slightly smaller than said indentations, a movable plate straddling the crimping plate and slidable longitudinally thereof and having pins mounted thereon adjacent the head of the crimping plate, said pins being spaced apart approximately the Width of the crimping plate, and means mounted upon the movable plate to actuate the crimping levers.

14-. A crimping machine for Wire and small bars or hands, comprising a stationary crimping plate having opposite indented edges, a series of crimping levers pivotally mounted adjacent the crimping plate, said levers being spaced the same as the indentations of said plate and having ends corre sponding to and slightly smaller than said indentations, a movable plate straddling the crimping plate and being slidable longitudinally thereof, and rotatable presser members mounted upon the movable plate and successively bearing against the lower ends of the crimping levers as the movable plate travels along the crimping plate.

15. A crimping machine for Wire and small bars or bands, comprising a support, a stationary crimping plate having an indented edge, a series of crimping levers pivotally mount-ed on said support, said levers being spaced the same as the indentations of said plate and having ends corresponding to and slightly smaller than said indentations, means for holding the material to be crimped adjacent the indented edge of the crimping plate, means for successively actuating the crimping levers into the corresponding indentations of the crimping plate against said material to crimp the same, and means for Withdrawing the crimped material from the crimping plate.

16. A crimping machine for Wire and small bars or bands, comprising a support, a stationary crimping plate mounted thereon and having opposite indented edges, a series of crimping levers pivotally mounted on said support, said levers spaced the same as the indentations of said plate and having their lower ends corresponding to and slightly smaller than said indentations, a movable plate straddling the crimping plate and being slidable longitudinally thereof, pins mounted on said movable plate adjacent the head of the crimping plate and spaced apart approximately the Width of the crimping plate, means mounted upon the movable plate to actuate the crimping levers, and means on said movable plate for Withdrawing the crimped material from the crimping plate.

17. A crimping device, comprising a stationary plate having indentations conforming to the bends to be formed, movable members adjacent to said indentations, means for holding the material to be formed adjacent said indentations, and a movable actuating member for successively engaging said movable members and moving the same into said indentations against said material to form the bends therein Without stretching the material.

18. A crimping device, comprising a crimping plate having a series of indentations formed therein, a series of pivoted crimping levers adjacent said indentations and normally spaced therefrom, and actuating means for successively moving portions of said levers into said indentations against the material to form the bends therein.

19. A crimping device, comprising a crimping plate having a series of indentations formed therein, a series of pivoted levers adj acent said indentations and normally spaced therefrom, actuating means for successively moving portions of said levers into said indentations against the material to form the bends therein, and guide means for holding certain of said levers in engaged position While other levers are being moved into engagement W1th sald material.

20. A device for forming staples having sinuous bends in the legs thereof, comprising a stationary crimping plate having indentations along its opposite sides conforming to thebends to be formed, spaced pivotally mounted crimping levers adjacent said indentations, said members normally being spaced from said indentations, means at one end of said plate for supporting a relatively straight piece of material intermediate its ends, and a carriage movable longitudinally of said plate having spaced bending means thereon for bending the material into a U- shaped staple upon initial movement of said carriage, actuating members for successively moving said crimping members into said indentations against said material to crimp the legs thereof, and guide means for holding certain of said levers in engaged position While other levers are being moved into engagement With said material.

21. A device for forming staples having crimped legs, comprising a stationary crimpmg plate having indentations in its opposite sides conforming to the bends to be formed, means for holding a relatively straight piece of material intermediate its ends and adacent to one end of said crimping plate, bending means movable longitudinally of said plate along the sides thereof for bondmg said material into staple form and for holding the legs of the staple adjacent said indentations, movable crimping members adjacent to said indentations, and actuating means for successively moving said crimping members into said indentations against said staple legs for forming the bends therein Without stretching the material thereof.

22. A device for forming staples having sinuous bends in the legs thereof, comprising a stationary crimping plate having indentations along its opposite sides conforming to the bends to be formed, spaced pivotally mounted crimping levers adjacent said indentations, said members normally being spaced from said indentations, means at one end of said plate for supporting a relatively straight piece of material intermediate its ins ends, and a carriage movable longitudinally of said plate having spaced bending means thereon for bending the material into a U- shaped staple upon initial movement of said carriage, and having spaced actuating means thereon rearWardly of said bending means adapted upon movement of said carriage to successively move said levers against the legs of the staple and into said indentations to form the bends in said legs.

28. A crimping device for forming staples having sinuous bends in the legs thereof, comprising a support, a stationary crimping plate mounted on said support and having indentations along opposite sides thereof crimping levers pivotally mounted on said support adjacent said indentations, said levers being resiliently held away from said indentations, means at one end of said plate for supporting a piece of material intermediate its ends, a carriage movable longitudinally of said plate, spaced bending members on said carriage for bending said material into U-shape upon movement of said carriage and for holding the legs thereof adjacent said indentations, and members on said carriage rearWardly oi said bending members for successively moving said levers into the corresponding indentation in said plate against said legs to form the bends therein.

24. A device for forming staples having sinuous bends in the legs thereof, compri ing a stationary crimping plate having indentations along its opposite sides conforming to the bends to be formed, spaced pivotally mounted crimping levers adjacent said indentations, said members normally being spaced from said indentations, means at one end of said plate for supporting a relatively straight piece of material intermediate its ends, a carriage movable longitudinally of said plate having spaced bending means thereon for bending the material into a U- shaped staple upon initial movement of said carriage and for holding the legs of said staple adjacent said indentations, actuating members rearwardly of said bending means adapted upon further movement of said carriage to successively move said levers against said legs of said staple and into said indentations to form the bends in said legs, and guide members for holding said levers in engagement With said legs While other levers are being moved into engagement therewith.

In testimony whereof he afiixes his signature.

QTTO F. ROHWEDDER. 

